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Accordding to Langenscheidt, Oxford, Duden the verb has two past participles, but those have not mentioned when we shall use each one! because the meanings are also the same.

Armin
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1 Answers1

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"schaffen" has three meanings:

  1. to get something managed,
  2. to create, to produce something
  3. to work (in some regions colloquial or dialect)

"geschafft" is the past participle ("schaffte" is simple past) of the 1st and 3rd

"geschaffen" is the past participle ("schuf" is simple past) of the 2nd

(Side note: "schöpfen" means to create in sense of God or artists. But note this word also has the completely different meaning to laddle!)

Nick
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    Amazing text/vote ratio :) Couldn't have put it better. – Dan Sep 14 '19 at 11:33
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    In Switzerland, AFAIK, schaffen is also used in the sense of "to work" (i.e., to have a job); though I wouldn't know what participle they use for that... – phipsgabler Sep 14 '19 at 16:35
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    That's meaning is not limited to Switzerland. We use it in Northern Germany, too. Ich muss schaffen gehen.Ich muss zur Arbeit gehen. – Janka Sep 15 '19 at 12:26
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    Consider also the different simple past forms: (1) schaffte (2) schuf – Bergi Sep 15 '19 at 14:51
  • Good points! I'll add it as a 3rd meaning in my answer above. – Nick Jun 05 '23 at 16:56